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Jimmy Carter's comments about race got me thinking. Back in the 70s when he was president, surely alot of people had trouble accepting a Southern president.
I'm a bit too young to remember, does anyone recall Carter receiving unprecedented disrespect based on his cultural background while he was in office?
In 1977, he endorsed Billy Beer capitalizing upon his colorful image as a beer-drinking Southern boy that had developed in the press when his brother ran for President. Carter's name was occasionally used as a gag answer for a Washington, D.C., trouble-maker on 1970s episodes of The Match Game. Carter was known for his outlandish public behavior. For example, he once urinated on an airport runway in full view of the press and dignitaries
In late 1978 and early 1979, Billy Carter visited Libya three times with a contingent from Georgia. He eventually registered as a foreign agent of the Libyan government and received a $220,000 loan. This led to a Senate hearing over alleged influence peddling which some in the press dubbed "Billygate." A Senate sub-committee was called To Investigate Activities of Individuals Representing Interests of Foreign Governments (Billy Carter-Libya Investigation).
After the failure of Billy Beer, Carter sold his house to settle back taxes with the IRS.
Jimmy Carter's comments about race got me thinking. Back in the 70s when he was president, surely alot of people had trouble accepting a Southern president.
I'm a bit too young to remember, does anyone recall Carter receiving unprecedented disrespect based on his cultural background while he was in office?
'Peanut Farmer' and many, many jokes about his twangy accent and Redneck brother and religiosity--'I have lusted in my heart for a woman'. Until George Bush he was 'the worst' president in recent history, political or personal qualifications would be difficult to separate.
Bill Clinton was the next Southern president and people seemed to like/adore him --not much like Jimmy Carter.
Someone remarked a few days ago that this needed to be said--to start a dialogue. I must live in a different world--it certainly seems that the ethnicity of Barack Obama and feelings about all aspects of this have been discussed and analyzed for at least 2 years.
Last edited by TakeAhike; 09-18-2009 at 07:13 AM..
Jimmy Carter's comments about race got me thinking. Back in the 70s when he was president, surely alot of people had trouble accepting a Southern president.
I'm a bit too young to remember, does anyone recall Carter receiving unprecedented disrespect based on his cultural background while he was in office?
I don't recall to much disrespect...but everyone was just so tired of Vietnam and Nixon and Whitewater and the perception that America had spun horribly out of control. Carter was a breath of fresh air, and the baby boomers flocked to his campaign. But he turned out to be such a sourpuss, and the boomers happily turned him out of office for Reagan's sunnier message.
Jimmy Carter's comments about race got me thinking. Back in the 70s when he was president, surely alot of people had trouble accepting a Southern president.
I'm a bit too young to remember, does anyone recall Carter receiving unprecedented disrespect based on his cultural background while he was in office?
No, he did not.
Last Prez who had this level of hatred- also based in the South- was JFK.
Last Prez who had this level of hatred- also based in the South- was JFK.
I disagree that's he's generated hatred, but he has certainly generated distrust...that's what happens when you sell yourself to the electorate as a centrist, then rule as a liberal. Americans don't like being tricked.
I disagree that's he's generated hatred, but he has certainly generated distrust...that's what happens when you sell yourself to the electorate as a centrist, then rule as a liberal. Americans don't like being tricked.
If you go back and look at his campaign- even a casual glance- you'll see the opposite is true:
Obama ran as a Progressive, and is governing as a Corporate Dem.
Which is why most of the legit flack he's catching (vs the racist hate from the right) comes from the Liberal wing of his party.
I'm confused as to why people in the 70's would have had any problem accepting a Southern President? LBJ was a Southerner, wasn't he?
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